E-Cigarettes: How Dangerous Are They?
The fire hazards associated with e-cigarettes must be addressed as soon as possible.
Current Statistics on E-Cigarette Fires
By November 2014, e-cigarettes were starting one fire per week. Those charged with health and safety management are overlooking the risks associated with e-cigarettes, because current British no-smoking legislation does not include them, making them seem harmless. ‘Responsible Persons’ charged with overseeing health and safety practice are required to consider e-cigarettes as part of their fire risk assessment.
While there were only eight blazes caused by e-cigarettes in 2012, the numbers rose to 43 in 2013 and 62 in 2014. These figures are likely highly conservative, as many fires caused by e-cigarettes go unreported.
Serious Incidents
There have already been two deaths in fires caused by e-cigarettes and serious incidents in August 2015 (house fire in Newport and fire in a locker at offices in Sutton Coldfield) and October 2015 (blaze at a student house in Bangor and a fire in hand luggage on board a Boeing 737).
The Rise of E-Cigarette Usage
Over two million Brits now use e-cigarettes, and UK vaping sales are more than three times those of nicotine replacement sales. The UK is the second largest market for vaping devices in the world, with domestic vaping sales increasing by 75 percent in the UK (£459m).
Call for Vigilance
The fire risk surrounding e-cigarettes is significant, prompting the Chairman of the Local Government Association’s fire services management committee, Jeremy Hilton, to urge users to be “vigilant at all times.” This vigilance needs to be applied in the workplace and shared properties.
Common Causes of E-Cigarette Fires
Fires are occurring where:
- E-cigarettes are overcharged or left in the charger after charging
- Left unattended whilst charging
- A charger is plugged into a non-approved power source or transformer
- E-cig batteries have been damaged, dropped, or struck
- E-cigarettes are not being charged in the original, manufacturer-approved charger, or are charged in a borrowed or cheap replacement charger
- E-cigarettes are used when wet
- Atomisers have been over-tightened
- E-cigarettes are charged on a USB hub plugged into a computer (and not supplied by the manufacturer)
- E-cigarettes are not compliant with British equipment marks such as the CE Mark
- E-cigarettes are left charging on flammable surfaces
- E-cigarettes have switched themselves on within handbags and lockers
- E-cigarettes have exploded and ignited other materials, such as bedding, oxygen supplies, and aerosols
Understanding E-Cigarette Operation
E-cigarettes operate through a battery-operated heating coil that gently heats a nicotine liquid that then vaporises. The batteries that heat the coil are rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can catch fire when overheated, damaged, or defective.
Additionally, if you plug an e-cigarette, which doesn’t use much current, into a charger that uses a lot, the device will heat up and may spurt harmful acid out of one end when the battery fails.
Learn More About Fire Risk Assessments
Stay safe and informed!